Karla Sofía Gascón, star of Emilia Pérez and the first openly transgender performer to receive an acting nomination at the Academy Awards,
was noticeably absent from the Oscar nominees dinner on February 25 at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles.
The event, which saw the attendance of major Hollywood figures, including Gascón’s co-star Zoe Saldaña, took place just days before the 97th Academy Awards ceremony.
Gascón, 52, who is up for Best Actress for her role in Emilia Pérez, has faced backlash in recent weeks due to resurfaced social media posts that critics deemed offensive.
The controversy has led to significant scrutiny of the Spanish actress, who has since deactivated her X (formerly Twitter) account
and issued multiple responses to the accusations.
Gascón’s Controversy and Public Response
The resurfaced posts, which date back several years, allegedly contained criticisms of Muslim culture, remarks about George Floyd, and other statements about diversity that were widely seen as problematic. Following the backlash, Jacques Audiard, the director of Emilia Pérez, publicly condemned Gascón’s past comments in an interview, further fueling the conversation around her actions.
In response, Gascón addressed the controversy in an apology shared on Instagram on February 6, where she expressed regret for any hurt caused. She stated her intention to step back from public discourse, writing, “I hope my silence will allow the film to be appreciated for what it is, a beautiful ode to love and difference. I sincerely apologize to everyone who has been hurt along the way.”
Despite the criticism, Emilia Pérez remains a frontrunner at the 97th Academy Awards, with an impressive 13 nominations, including Best Picture.
Gascón’s Absences from Awards Events
The Oscar nominees dinner is just one of several high-profile events that Gascón has skipped in the lead-up to the Academy Awards. Earlier this month, she was absent from the Critics Choice Awards and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, both of which were attended by her co-stars Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez.
During the SAG Awards, Saldaña and Gomez took the stage to present Emilia Pérez in Gascón’s absence. Reports suggest that her continued no-shows may be an attempt to avoid further media scrutiny amid the ongoing controversy.
Zoe Saldaña’s Reaction to the Controversy
While promoting Emilia Pérez, Saldaña has spoken candidly about her feelings regarding the situation. In January, the actress expressed sadness and disappointment over the resurfaced posts, stating, “I don’t have any tolerance for any negative rhetoric towards people of any group.”
Despite her disappointment, Saldaña has also emphasized her continued pride in the film and its message. She has made it clear that while she does not condone Gascón’s past remarks, she remains supportive of Emilia Pérez and its success during awards season.
Will Gascón Attend the Oscars?
Although she has skipped multiple key events, reports suggest that Gascón does plan to attend the Academy Awards ceremony on March 2, 2025. A source told PEOPLE on February 24 that the actress is still expected to be at the Oscars, where she will be joined by her co-stars, including Saldaña and Selena Gomez.
As of now, neither Gascón nor Netflix, the film’s distributor, has publicly addressed whether she will make an appearance at Hollywood’s biggest night. However, her attendance would mark her first major awards event in weeks, potentially putting her back in the spotlight after a period of silence.
A Historic Yet Controversial Oscar Nomination
Gascón’s nomination for Best Actress is undeniably historic, making her the first openly transgender actor to be nominated in any acting category at the Oscars. However, her groundbreaking recognition has been overshadowed by the controversy surrounding her past comments, leading to a complicated awards season for both her and the film.
Despite the backlash, Emilia Pérez has continued to garner critical acclaim, recently winning the BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language on February 16. During his acceptance speech, director Jacques Audiard took a moment to acknowledge Gascón, despite his previous condemnation of her past statements.
As the 97th Academy Awards approach, all eyes will be on whether Gascón attends and how her presence—or absence—impacts the narrative surrounding one of the year’s most talked-about films.
Follow us to see more useful information, as well as to give us more motivation to update more useful information for you.
